BECKLEY, W.Va. — Within the next two years, the City of Beckley will have a state-of-the-art nursing facility dedicated to West Virginia veterans
Gov. Jim Justice took part in a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, joining veterans, state and local officials, project managers and many members from the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.
“This is a truly special day for West Virginia and for our veterans, especially our veterans in Southern West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said.
The new veterans nursing facility will be named in honor of Southern West Virginia Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Charles Calvin Rogers.
U.S Army Major General Rogers, a native of Claremont in Fayette County, earned the Medal of Honor following acts of heroism near the Cambodian border on November 1, 1968.
“This facility is going to be one of the best in the country, and it should be, because that’s what our veterans deserve,” said Justice. “It’s especially meaningful because we get to honor General Charles Calvin Rogers, who is a true American military hero and one of our own.”
Construction on the Charles Calvin Rogers Veterans Nursing Facility is estimated to take 18 months to two years with the help of both state and federal money. The facility will be financed thanks to a grant from by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We cannot thank Governor Justice enough for his leadership and support of this tremendous and extremely important project,” Ted Diaz, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance said. “Veterans in our state need this facility, and Governor Justice literally is making it happen.”
The facility will be located near the Jackie Withrow Hospital on South Eisenhower Drive and will include 120 beds, common rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and other amenities. Residents will be able to live in 12-to-15-person communities.
“I am so pleased for our veterans, and we are honored because this project is a testament to West Virginia’s leadership and the fact that our state is serving those who served. We also couldn’t be more pleased that we’re paying tribute to the remarkable service and career of General Rogers,” Diaz said.
General Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon in a ceremony at the White House on May 14, 1970. He was the highest ranking African-American service member to receive the medal.
Rogers died in 1990.